The article discusses the overcrowding crisis faced by emergency departments (EDs) in the U.S., exemplified by the fictional drama 'The Pitt,' set in a Pittsburgh hospital. The show illustrates real-life challenges faced by medical professionals, showcasing their daily struggles as they manage a variety of cases, from severe medical incidents to less critical situations. Despite the engaging narratives, the serious issue of ED gridlock persists, with experts like Dr. Benjamin S. Abella stressing that the healthcare system is nearing a breaking point due to overwhelming patient demand.
The emergency department waiting room was jammed, as it always is, with patients sitting for hours, closely packed on hard metal chairs.
The Pitt follows emergency room doctors, nurses, medical students, janitors and staff hour by hour over a single day as they deal with all manner of medical issues.
The system is at the breaking point, said Dr. Benjamin S. Abella, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York.
Only those with conditions so dire they needed immediate care like a heart attack got seen immediately.
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